Yoga Inversions: Everything You Need to Know About Inversions in Yoga

Many people tend to cringe when they hear the topic of inversions brought up. Going upside down can be really scary for a lot of people.

This is understandable—we have to get comfortable with falling—which, let’s be honest, is probably going to happen a lot along the way.

But inversions don’t have to be scary. If we change our perspective and start small—like in Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog), which is itself an inversion—and gradually strengthen and work towards the more advanced asanas (poses), it all starts to feel a little less terrifying and a lot more exciting.

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog)

What Are Inversions?

Inversions are asanas in yoga that take you upside down. They bring the hips higher than the heart and the heart higher than the head; they are an integral part of a yoga practice.

There’s an inversion for every level in yoga. From Balasana (Child’s Pose) to Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand), no matter where you are in your practice, you’ll always be able to find a way to get upside down.

Are Inversions Safe?

Yes. Mostly. In truth, it depends completely upon the person performing the inversion.

Anyone with spine, neck or head injuries needs to take extra caution when practicing inversions; as does anyone with high blood pressure or cardiovascular problems.

When we say high blood pressure, we’re referring to anyone with high blood pressure who is not doing anything to control it (i.e. taking medication).

In general, though, those who have high blood pressure and take medication to lower it can usually perform the same exercises as someone who has normal blood pressure, but it’s still best to incorporate inversions gradually into your practice. [1]

Anyone who is completely healthy still needs to take precautions when practicing inversions. Warming up properly, listening to your body and progressing slowly are good tips to take into consideration when going upside down.

Poses like Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) and Sirsasana (Headstand) can place a lot of pressure on the upper back and shoulders and need to be approached carefully and mindfully.

Sirsasana (Headstand)

That being said, if you’re newer to the practice, or simply still working on strengthening your core and stabilizer muscles, there are many safe ways to get inverted without relying solely on your head and neck to hold you up.

We’ll talk about this a little more below, but to give you an idea, Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall Pose) or using a wall to help you stabilize and strengthen the body as you prepare for Handstand are both good ways of going upside down without worrying as much about falling over or injuring yourself.

Regardless of where you are in your practice, always take care when practicing inversions.

Some days will feel different than others. If you ever have any doubt about going upside down for whatever reason, listen to that and opt for staying upright until you feel ready to invert yourself again.

Benefits of Yoga Inversions

Physical Benefits of Yoga Inversions

Fountain of Youth

It’s said that turning yourself upside down will get the fountain of youth flowing inside you.

When we go upside down we ignite our seventh chakra, sahasrara chakra or crown chakra, where it is said that amrita, the ‘nectar of immortality’ is held, and it naturally flows through our bodies over the course of our lives. [2]

Because of this, it’s thought that going upside down keeps our amrita at our crown chakra, preserving it and therefore allowing us to live longer.

That being said, there are also a lot of other physical benefits to going upside down, so let’s take a look at a few of them.

Give Your Heart a Rest

When we turn upside down, we give our hearts a few moments of rest.

Our hearts work very hard for us throughout the day. They’ve got to pump freshly oxygenated blood upwards to our brains and that takes a lot of effort.

However, when we invert ourselves, the blood flows more easily toward our hearts and heads, allowing the heart to take a break.

This also reduces blood pressure and our heart rate. However, there is no evidence as to how exactly this lowers blood pressure, and because this is not completely understood, inversions are not recommended for people with high blood pressure.

Improves Circulation

We all have tissues and fluids in our body that get concentrated in different places, oftentimes in the lower body simply because of gravity, which create varicose veins and hemorrhoids. [3]

When we go upside down, those fluids drain from our lower body clearing up any congestion that has gathered. This includes blood, as well. Our overall circulation improves and our bodies are better able to cleanse themselves of waste over time.

Stimulates the Lymphatic System

Our circulation is part of our lymphatic system—the system in the body that removes waste, contributes to our immunity and flushes healthy, disease-fighting blood cells throughout the body.

When we turn upside down, we stimulate our lymphatic system and therefore strengthen the immune system and rejuvenate any underused areas in the body.

Inverting the head can also help clear blocked sinuses and lungs. Clearing out these vulnerable areas helps keep away viruses like the common cold and flu.

Give You Energy

If you ever feel like your energy begins to wane around mid-afternoon, get yourself upside down!

All that blood flowing to your brain benefits more than just your heart. It’s a natural brain boost, giving you more energy to finish out the rest of your day.

Better Balance

So you’ve finally mastered the standing balancing poses and you’re looking for something else to tackle? Inversions might be your next challenge.

Inversions test our balance in a much different way than when we’re standing on one or both feet. When we balance upside down, it creates an entirely new dimension. It literally flips our perspective upside down.

Builds Core Strength

Let’s be honest, it’s easy to get away with not using our core in a lot of standing asanas…just wear an oversized shirt and nobody will notice, right?

But nobody’s going to get away with that in an inversion.

Core strength is a must when it comes to holding yourself up and staying balanced, especially in poses like Headstand, Tripod Headstand and Handstand, among others.

Especially for women who tend to be stronger in their lower bodies than upper, it’s imperative that we build up our core strength and gradually work towards the more advanced inversions.

Psychological Benefits of Yoga Inversions

Confidence Building

It takes a lot of practice and patience to not only get yourself up, but stay in an inverted pose. When you do, though, it’s like a rush of adrenaline.

It’s proving to yourself that you can do it, and that you can overcome obstacles and achieve things you maybe thought you’d never achieve. This confidence all of a sudden flows into the rest of your life, making for a lasting change.

Increases Focus

You have to focus when you’re upside down. If you lose focus, you fall. Enough said.

Humbling

With that, we all lose focus sometimes, and falling is humbling.

Practicing inversions is good way to learn the notion of non-attachment. Ultimately, inversions aren’t about being perfect in the pose—they teach us to stay present and persevere, regardless of our circumstances.

Promote Relaxation

This applies more to the cooling inversions, such as Child’s Pose or Legs up the Wall. These inversions calm down our nervous system and bring our attention inward. They make us feel more balanced and peaceful.

Gain a New Perspective

We’re surrounded by notions of right and wrong in this life. But inversions teach us to look at things from a different perspective.

Getting upside down is different for everybody, and there’s no ‘one way’ to do it. What works for you might not work for the next yogi.

Spending time upside down changes the way things look, literally and figuratively. Sometimes inversions help us to see things more clearly, and this translates into our everyday choices, making it easier to know what it is we really want for our lives.

Fun

Inversions are fun! Even when we’re not nailing them, it’s fun to try and fall every once in a while, too.

Modifications

There are many modifications for inversions and it’s recommended to begin with the modified versions, especially with the more advanced poses, when you’re just starting out.

You can use props like a block, yoga wheel or even a wall to build up your core and upper body strength and to work on your balance until you feel ready to fly on your own.

Inversions with Blocks or Bolsters

Blocks and bolsters are great ways to support the back and help us stay balanced in inversions.

If you’re opting for a more restorative inversion, you can place a block or bolster, either will work, underneath your sacrum (lower back) in Legs up the Wall Pose. This will lift your hips a little higher, taking any extra pressure off your spine and possibly even raising them higher than your heart.

Another good option for a supported inversion is Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose) with a block. While Bridge and Supported Bridge poses are technically backbends, they also qualify as inversions as the hips are higher than the heart, and the heart is higher than the head.

Setu Bandha (Bridge Pose) with a block

To come into Supported Bridge, you’ll start by lying down on your back. Bend your knees and slide your heels toward your hips to place where your fingertips touch your heels, soles of the feet on the mat.

Take a deep breath in and lift your hips toward the ceiling. Place a block beneath your sacrum, right at the base of the spine. Play with the height of the block here. There are three levels to choose from, so start at the lowest level and go from there.

Stay for three or four minutes. Then, release the block, lower your hips back to the mat and come into Shavasana (Corpse Pose).

Another way to use blocks with inversions is to use them as a stabilizing aid. This is perfect if you’re new to going upside down and want a little extra help staying there.

You’ll need three blocks and a wall without any obstructions above, behind or directly beside you for this practice.

Set up your yoga mat so the top (short-edge) is against the wall. Then you’ll place one of the blocks, at its tallest setting, about one inch away from the wall. Its most narrow and tallest side will be facing the wall.

Then, you’ll stack the final two blocks on top of the first, but at their lowest setting—so the shortest end will be touching the wall.

From here, you’ll come to a tabletop position facing the wall, just behind the blocks. Come down to your forearms and interlace your fingers around the back of the bottom block. Make sure to keep your elbows directly below your shoulders.

The crown of your head will come to the mat and the back of your head will rest against the bottom block.

Start to lift your hips up and back as if you were coming into Downward-Facing Dog or Dolphin poses (see more on how to do these below), curling your toes under and lifting the knees off the floor.

Begin to walk your feet toward the wall until you feel your upper back press against the top two blocks.

Shift your weight into your forearms so there’s little to no weight on your head and neck. Really activate your arms and core here, like you’re pressing the floor away from you.

Now, keeping that core really strong, begin to lift one leg up towards the wall and then slowly float the other leg up with it. You can rest your heels against the wall to start, and when you feel comfortable, see if you can move them away from the wall.

Inversions against the Wall

Practicing inversions against the wall is a great way to build strength and stability.

One common way to practice against the wall is to start by facing the wall and lifting your legs up into Headstand or Handstand and allow your feet and back of the legs to rest against the wall.

Adhomukha Vrikshasana against the wall

However, this is not the best use of the wall. While this does help you stay up in the pose a little longer, it doesn’t really help with any strengthening in the long run.

A better way, that will strengthen your core and upper body while allowing you to go upside down, is to come into Half-Handstand.

Start with the top of your yoga mat against the wall. Then come down into Dandasana (Staff Pose), with your heels right up next to the wall and your legs long. So you’ll be facing the wall here.

Make a mental note of where your hips are on the mat, or you can use a block to mark the spot. This is where you’ll place your hands for Half Handstand.

Come down to a tabletop position, on your hands and knees, with your hands in place where your hips and buttocks were previously and the soles of your feet against the wall.

Take a deep breath in and begin to walk one foot up the wall. Start to straighten your other leg and lift your hips toward the ceiling. Then walk your other foot up the wall.

You want your body to be in an, ‘L’ shape here. Your legs will be parallel to the earth and your upper body parallel to the wall.

Get really strong in your core and press through all five fingertips, like you’re pressing the floor away.

Find a place where you feel strong and stable. Stay for five or ten breaths, and come down by releasing one leg at a time, coming back to your tabletop position and then into Child’s Pose to recover.

Inversions for Everyone

Inversions for Beginners

Inversions can be daunting for beginners. But in reality, if you’ve practiced yoga before, you’ve already been upside down. So let’s look at a couple ways to practice inversions as a newbie.

Downward-Facing Dog

Down Dog is a great inversion because it’s accessible, it doesn’t take up too much energy and it feels amazing.

To come into Down Dog, start in a tabletop position. Make sure your wrists are directly beneath your shoulders and press all five fingertips and the palms of your hands into the mat.

Curl your toes under and press your hips up and back, moving from your core.

You might need to adjust your hands and feet a little bit so shift around until you find the shape that works in your body. You want to bring the weight back into your legs—you’ll do this by pressing firmly into the mat with your hands.

It’s common for beginners to have their chests too far forward, so really press your chest towards your thighs and your heels to the earth. They don’t have to touch—in fact, if you have tight hamstrings, it’s okay to keep a slight bend in your knees.

Allow your head and neck to release, with your gaze at the mat or your toes, and stay for 5–10 breaths.

Dolphin Pose

Dolphin, similar to Down Dog, is perfect if you want to go upside down but want to try something a little different. It’s also a great way to build strength in the upper body and core, preparing the body to get upside down a little later down the road.

For Dolphin, you’ll start in Down Dog. Take a deep inhalation and slowly lower your elbows to the mat.

Keep the palms of your hands pressed into the mat, and walk your feet in towards your elbows, just a couple inches at a time, until it feels just right.

As in Down Dog, press your chest to your thighs, let your head relax and keep breathing.

Headstand Prep

Headstand prep is a great way to get used to standing on your head and for building strength in your upper body.

Come into Dolphin Pose to start. Interlace your fingers into a fist and then separate the palms of your hands a couple inches, just wide enough to hold an apple there.

Bring the crown of your head down to the mat and rest it between your wrists. Be sure to not let it fall into the palms of your hands.

Get active in your forearms, shoulders and core. Then start to walk your feet, slowly, toward to your head, as close you can. Hold for 5–10 breaths.

Walk your feet back, lift back up into Dolphin and then come into Child’s Pose for rest.

Legs up the Wall

Legs up the Wall is great for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner, you had a tough day at work or you just got off a long flight, Legs up the Wall is the place to go.

This one sounds exactly how it looks. First find your wall. Turn to either side so one of your shoulders is right up against the wall and, keeping your shoulders next to it, lower your hips to sit on the floor at the base of the wall.

We start like this so you can keep your buttocks close to the wall the entire time.

Sit down onto your buttocks and then lower your upper body to floor, onto your back. Lift your legs up toward the ceiling and scooch your buttocks as close the wall as you can.

You can place your arms wherever feels good to you. Close your eyes and let yourself relax. Come into slow, deep breaths and stay for 5–10 minutes, or however long feels good for your body.

Inversions for High Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure, whether you are taking medication or not, you should check with your doctor before doing inversions.

Like we said before, those who have high blood pressure but are treating it with medication can usually practice inversions just like anyone else. But if you have untreated high blood pressure, it really is best to talk first with your doctor.

Once you have the go ahead, you can gradually start incorporating them into your practice. Here a few good ones to get started with:

Inversions and Periods

This is a highly controversial topic. Opinions on whether or not to practice inversions, or any yoga at all, while menstruating vary.

There are some teachers who believe that going upside down while on your period interrupts the natural downward flow of the cycle. And then there are others who recommend inversions to help alleviate symptoms of PMS.

And to further the contradictions, some teachers will advise not taking an inversion such as Headstand or Shoulderstand, but at the same time give no warnings about other asanas that tilt the pelvis, such as Down Dog and Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold).

There are some theories that practicing inversions while menstruating can lead to endometriosis in the long run—but this theory isn’t backed by science.

Overall, there haven’t been any hard studies done to prove one right or wrong way to practice while on your period.

When it comes down to it, it’s your body. If you’re someone who feels like inverting while menstruating makes you feel really good, then go for it.

But if you’re someone who just really doesn’t want to flip yourself upside down while Aunt Flo’s in town, then don’t. Periods can be uncomfortable all on their own, there’s no reason to add the discomfort if you don’t need to.

Inversions for Pregnancy

There are many questions around inversions and pregnancy—what to do, what not to do, when to stop practicing going upside. Let’s take a look at a few answers.

Inversions While Trying to Conceive

Yoga is a great practice to incorporate into your routine while you’re trying to conceive. It’s a great way to build up strength, balance and endurance, readying your body for the months to come.

As for whether or not to practice inversions while trying to conceive, it’s probably best to stick with the gentler ones. Anything that creates a lot of heat like Handstand or Headstand, might be a little too much for your body.

Also, these asanas require a lot of strength and practice before you’re able to hold yourself up. Because of this, injuries are more likely to happen in these advanced poses, which is not what you want right before you get pregnant.

The one exception here is if you’ve been practicing these heating inversions for a long time and feel very comfortable in them.

Otherwise, stick with inversions like Legs up the Wall and Supported Bridge. Who knows, maybe the reversed gravity will actually speed up the conception process!

Are Yoga Inversions Safe During Pregnancy?

If you haven’t been consistently practicing inversions before pregnancy, it’s best to steer clear of them during.

However, if you’ve been practicing yoga for a long time and inversions feel like second nature to you, by all means, keep practicing them as long as they feel okay for your body.

As your pregnancy progresses, you might find that inversions just don’t feel as good as they did in the beginning. If this is the case, there’s no shame in taking a little break from going upside down.

There has been a lot more research done on prenatal yoga in recent years and we’re finding that more poses are safe for pregnant women than previously thought.

For example, Down Dog is now considered an okay asana for pregnant women to practice.

That being said, inversions like Handstand, or any that require more balance, are generally not advised simply due to the higher risk of falling and injuring mama and/or baby.

To read more about which yoga poses are now deemed ‘okay’ to practice while pregnant, click here.

And, as always, if your doctor has advised you to refrain from going upside down, whether you’re used to it or not, then it’s best to listen.

Contraindications to Yoga Inversions

If you have any doubts about whether or not you should start practicing inversions, whether it’s due to a medical problem or personal issue, ask your doctor and yoga instructor.

This is especially true for people who suffer from diabetes or insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease/hypertension, glaucoma/eye problems, any back/spinal issues, ear/sinus infections and, last but not least, if you’re pregnant.

Wrapping Up

Inversions are a fun and exhilarating way to spice up your yoga practice, re-energize your health and build strength, while improving balance.

They can help you find a new perspective to approach life with, one that will ultimately make you a little happier along the way.

Remember, start small. It’s better to take baby steps and gradually work yourself upside down safely than to jump into it all at once.

Start where you are, with what you have and you’ll reap the benefits of flying upside down in no time.

Meera Watts is a yoga teacher, entrepreneur and mom. Her writing on yoga and holistic health has appeared in Elephant Journal, Yoganonymous, OMtimes and others. She’s also the founder and owner of Siddhi Yoga International, a yoga teacher training school based in Singapore. Siddhi Yoga runs intensive, residential trainings in India (Rishikesh, Goa and Dharamshala), Indonesia (Bali) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur).

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